Maila Nurmi

Vampira (Maila Nurmi) and Elvira (Cassandra Petterson) collage

When Vampira Sued Elvira: Inside the Horror Hostess Feud

The original horror hostess had a bone to pick with the Mistress of the Dark.
Promotional portrait of Finnish-born American actress Maila Nurmi (born Maila Syrjaniemi, 1922 - 2008), in character as Vampiria, as she poses with her arms around the skull-topped back of a chair, 1950s. Nurmi developed the Vampira character when she was hired to host television braodcasts of horror movies on the Los Angeles station KABC-TV; she later played the character in the film Ed Wood-directed film, 'Plan Nine from Outer Space.'

Vampira: The Original Horror TV Hostess With the Mostess

Years before Elvira, there was Vampira.